The U.S. Army has announced significant changes to its enlistment rules, raising the maximum age for new recruits to 42 and easing restrictions on minor drug convictions. The update, outlined in Army Regulation 601-210 on March 20, will take effect from April 20. Previously, the maximum age to join the Regular Army, Army National Guard, or Army Reserves was 35, while the minimum remains 18—or 17 with parental consent.
Under the revised rules, individuals with a single conviction for marijuana possession or drug paraphernalia can now enlist without needing a waiver. An Army spokesperson explained that the changes are intended to align Army standards with broader Department of Defense policies.
The new age limit brings the Army in line with other branches, including the Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard, which have similar upper age limits. The Navy set its cap at 41 in 2022, while the Marine Corps continues to enforce a maximum age of 28.
This is the second time in two decades that the Army has raised its age limit to 42. The first adjustment occurred during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, when the maximum age increased to 40 and then 42, before dropping back to 35 in 2016.
The changes come amid ongoing global tensions, including the war in Iran, as the Army seeks to expand its recruitment pool and maintain readiness.
